Brother David Steindl-Rast (O.S.B.) challenges us, as Christians, to forego the “narrowness, exclusivism, or sexism” that too often typifies an entrenched and defended posture in partisan communities – as the only viable and productive path to meaningful dialogue. Speaking from an entirely ‘different’ background, Thich Nhat Hanh (a Vietnamese Buddhist monk) censures the caution (when one ponders the parallels and overlaps of a variety of traditions) that we ought not to make ‘fruit salad’ of these practices with the delightful observation that “fruit salad can be delicious”! This parishioner’s thoughts on the political side of church till similar soil with yet another hoe.
David Howard.
David Howard.
The Apostle, The Eunuch and YouTube
BCE: Before Computer Era. For a tax accountant, those were interesting days. Well, for some of us, BCE stood for Before Calculator Era. Indeed, any accountant worth their mettle, could add columns of numbers swiftly and accurately in the latterly named times. But science kept gently nudging accounting forward. Soon, there were the hand-crank calculators and summing columns in one’s head became a lost art. The CE, Computer Era, brought significant changes to accounting practices. For tax practitioners, the availability of online forms from other countries probably reduced the sales of extra-strength pain relievers threefold. No longer were the procrastinating clients with their U.S. returns a problem. In the U.S., taxpayers are normally required to file federal, state and municipal income tax returns. Finding a paper return for Small-town, N.J. on April 14th BCE in a Stratford Ontario accounting office was an impossibility. This task, in the Computer Era is a no-brainer; the main complaint now is if the online form is not a fillable form.
Perhaps there are similarities for faith communities. What brings this to mind are the availability of websites that support followers of The Way. The Daily Office is an Episcopalian website that provides noon and evening online offices. It is visually attractive and usually has sound bites from choirs around the world. The discipline of observing daily offices is an important tradition of the Anglican Church. I am often surprised where this practice takes me.
This week, the poll surveys visitors on the question: Why did God tell Philip to baptise the Ethiopian eunuch? The scriptural reference is Acts 8:27-39. Interestingly, there is a YouTube video link, with the poll, that recreates this event recorded by Luke. Two young men, with background music from the movie Chariots of Fire, cleverly and succinctly bring the scripture reference to life.
I reread the biblical text and contemplate the question. The obvious reasons are purposely blanked out. Requiring some stimulus, I Google Philip and the Eunuch. 243,000 results; oh dear. Of the 243,000 results, one attracts me: The Ethiopian Queen of the Desert: researching theology, celebrating diversity. Let’s check this out.
The subtitle of the article is Philip and The Ethiopian Eunuch: Two Role Models for Inclusivity. The author has three university degrees and supports his article with references. There are no spelling mistakes (my first criterion for worthiness).
I’ve read the article three times now. It is a thoughtful and progressive look at the scripture; verse by verse I am given new insight to the text. Superficially, most commentaries (and many of the other 243,000 results as well) focus on the baptism scene and the road to salvation. This author opens my eyes to the profound yet subtle significance of elements of the text. The Ethiopian eunuch is as significant a character, now in my mind, as the Samarian woman at the well. In our age, we are numbed to the powerfully radical actions of Jesus, in the case of the Samarian woman, and Philip, in this case of the Ethiopian eunuch.
Interestingly, another YouTube video focuses on the present-day story of a young Ethiopian immigrant to Israel. His family went to Israel for a better secular and religious life. Neither has happened. The family has met only bigotry, exclusion, racism and poverty. The young man has found his identity through a theatre school and fully intends to fulfill the family vision. It has been a sad and painful journey.
Back to Acts 8 and Philip. Philip is a Jewish Christian who purposely engages the Ethiopian believer. What unfolds is a vision for the Church today. Philip, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, acts with unconditional and radical inclusivity. Philip does not hesitate to receive the hospitality of the nameless African neutered male and enters his chariot. The climactic scene has Philip entering water with the eunuch in a symbolic act of inclusivity; Philip baptises the eunuch to affirm that there are no barriers to life in Jesus. Philip does not worry the issue with words, he doesn’t check in with the authorities for approval, he doesn’t spend years researching if this is doctrine or core doctrine. He simply acts.
Did Jesus believe that the way to God was through the observance and fulfilment of covenantal laws? Did Jesus prescribe the Way for us? It seems so simple, unconditional and radical, the prescription: Love one another. Maybe, we the Church today, need to step back to the vision of Jesus. Spend less time talking about how we can or should be Christians; let’s act, like Philip.
Unlike the impact that the Computer Age has had on the day-to-day affairs of accounting professionals, access to the global Church, digitally, has complicated life for me in that it is constantly challenging my views, broadening my scope of awareness and continuously making me contemplate The Way. I don’t want to go back to summing columns in my head or being unchallenged in my faith.
The Web Scribe
1 comment:
Hi Nicola: Can you tell me in what year John Enmegahbowh was ordained? It has long been held that Henry Budd was the first aboriginal to be ordained in the Anglican Communion in North America. He was made a deacon at Red River 22 December 1850 and ordained priest at Christ Church, The Pas, 10 June 1853. The Henry Budd School of Native Theology, at The Pas, is named for him. Allison Barnett Cowan and her husband served there, and the school's current director attended the Synod of the Diocese of Huron last month. I was among those fortunate enough to attend the graduation of the first three women from that school a number of years ago. The event was celebrated with a major scholarly symposium and one of the most impressing Eucharistic services I've ever attended. The Bishop of Brandon celebrated in Cree, and the native liturgical colours were featured, as was drumming. It was an experience I'll never forget. Joyce.
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